Angel Flight to hold annual fundraiser
by CHRISTOPHER GORDON Orchard Park Editor

Diane DeMarco said her husband, Joe, sometimes leaves work at a moment's notice to fly a person in need of medical help.

And he does it at his own expense.

Joe DeMarco represents Angel Flight Northeast and is one of five private pilots from Western New York who offer their services.

"It's a nonprofit, volunteer organization," said Diane DeMarco, who noted that it can cost as much as $1,000 to operate a single flight.

However, for the patient "it's 100 percent free," she said.

To assist with the costs, a fundraiser will be held from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 at 3964 California Road, Orchard Park.

The cost is $25 per person and includes hot dogs all day, a chicken dinner at 6 p.m., beer, wine and soda, live bands, a silent and Chinese auction and raffles.

Diane DeMarco said the patients served by Angel Flight must be able to fly without medical assistance. The organization also offers a service called Compassion Flight for people who must travel to visit loved ones that are sick or dying.

According to Diane DeMarco, the cost is not as important to the pilots as helping those in need.

"We own a construction company," she said, noting that the Angel Flight pilots are not employed by the airlines. "They just love to fly."

In order to qualify to be an Angel Flight volunteer, the pilots must have at least 250 hours of flying time and be instrument-rated - meaning they can navigate through clouds.

She stressed that not all of the patients transported by her husband are from Western New York.

When a patient needs to be flown somewhere, Joe DeMarco departs from Prior Aviation at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

The Angel Flight organization is based out of Boston, Mass., and Diane DeMarco said there are about 500 pilots nationwide who volunteer their services.

While tickets for the fundraiser will be available at the door, the organization would prefer that they be purchased in advance.

Checks can be made payable to: Angel Flight NE, Diane DeMarco, P.O. Box 107, Orchard Park, NY, 14127.

For more information, contact Diane DeMarco at 479-5565 or at 667-0815.

To learn more about Angel Flight NE, visit the Web Site at www. angelflightne. org.